Antal loves his life and is proud not only to be in charge of a regiment of guards but also to act as a personal protector and bodyguard to a good friend. Alas, he’s young to carry so much responsibility and has to accept that even the most dedicated person needs time off. He needs something new and different in his life but doesn’t know what...or whom...

Kilan is a Swithin prince -- the only one now that his brother is king -- but although he’s happier than he’s ever been he’s always been mischievous. He’d rather do what he likes than what others say is right. He hates the responsibility of duty and is always on the lookout for a little fun...and lately, Antal has certainly started to look like he might be fun!

They believe they have nothing in common aside from a physical attraction until they realise they both share the weight of responsibility. Maybe they deserve to spend some time in each other’s arms. What Kilan doesn’t realise is that Antal doesn’t know how to be anything but dominant...until it’s too late...and Antal has more experience in many things than the young prince.

When responsibility becomes too much to face alone, two men will discover the true meaning of sharing...particularly when one is naturally dominant and the other unknowingly submissive!

Are you ready for a princely passion?

“I found it…intriguing.”

If Ryanac had ever said anything inadequate, that was it. Antal had stumbled into the clearing approximately an hour ago. Feeling irritable, he’d avoided uncovering the statue a while longer. Instead, he’d tackled setting up camp, locating the nearby cave that every visitor used. Accumulated goods and provisions made the cave homely. Several pallets lay spread out on the ground, and there were even a few chairs, including those set out at the entrance. From there one could sit sheltered from the weather and still cast an eye on the outside world. Where you could still look at the statue…

There was also a rudimentary table with several utensils and wooden platters laid out. Antal set his food supply there. A fresh water source nearby meant only food was a concern. He’d brought bread, cheese, dried meats, and biscuits, all wrapped in cloth and then an oiled paper, the scent of which would deter insects and at worst give the bread a citrus tang. He spread his bedroll on one of the pallets, which would feel considerably more comfortable than using it on the forest floor as he’d had to do the previous night. Next he set his pack aside. All it contained was a change of clothes and some soaps, oils…lubricants.

It also contained the small book. Ryanac had returned it to him. Apparently, Ryanac had indeed found something useful in the pages, something that would help Markis wed outside of his union to the Swithin queen. Usually any and all involved in an extended relationship married each other; however in this instance Uly especially didn’t want to wed Tressa, any more than she wanted to marry Uly, and it had nothing to do with not liking each other. Tressa struggled with some aspects of the Swithin life, and Uly… Uly just didn’t want to marry a woman no matter how much he cared for her. Markis had been looking for a way to change their laws for months now, and something in the small book had led Ryanac to further research. Antal hoped the search succeeded, for he would be delighted if that was all that came of this. If his feeling out of sorts, purloining a book, and coming on this ridiculous venture… If all it did was lead to happiness for others, then that was all to the good.

Antal closed his eyes, taking a deep, steadying breath. He was only delaying the inevitable. He hadn’t come all this way just to sleep here for one night and then return home. He rose up and walked out of the cave, taking the opportunity to cast his gaze up to the blue sky peeking through the overhead branches of the trees, of the towering trees themselves, and the sweeping dip of the glade. The day was warm, the air just the right side of cool. This place demanded peace and meditation; Ryanac had that right. Antal contemplated that he could happily spend a few days here, just on his own, just being quiet. He tried telling himself that the sculpture was now unimportant, but that was a lie. Curiosity burned in him like acid. The time had arrived to look at the statue.

Ethereal, otherworldly, inhuman, and eerie: these were all things that passed through his mind. He struggled to remember crossing the clearing, hesitating at the figure’s side, raising a hand, pulling at the cover. Had he untied the four loops and the encircling rope that held the canvas cover in place? He must have. As far as he knew, the elements never seemed to mar the figure, but the Swithin covered the statue as a precaution. Antal had expected to struggle with the heavy canvas, but instead the waxed fabric had slipped to the side with ease. Where it might have caught, the wind seemed to know; the breeze kicked up and blew, lifting the canvas as though nature offered a helping hand.

“Beautiful,” Antal whispered, but the word didn’t fit. Beautiful didn’t even come close to it.

“I told you, whatever they created the statue from, it’s incredible to the touch. Trust me, Antal. You don’t want to go through life never having touched that thing.”

Ryanac had said that, and Antal wanted to touch it. He just couldn’t. Glancing down at his hands, he frowned upon seeing that dirt marred his skin. He wiped his hand on his jerkin, at once knowing that even if the statue were sentient, it wouldn’t mind a little soil with his touch, but he wasn’t going to do it. He would touch it before he left. That he now knew, but he couldn’t lay a hand on it before bathing. No Swithin went to a lover without bathing first, and the thought almost made Antal laugh. Was that how he was seeing this thing -- as a lover?

He wasn’t sure about that, but he would touch it. He had to, just…not yet. For now, he circled the figure, traversing the stone platform upon which it lay. Indeed, he now saw that it didn’t lie atop the platform as he’d believed, but was part of it, the whole thing one solid construction. He found the emotions that flooded through him disturbing, but he did his best to ignore the ensuing fear. Never had he wanted something so much as right now, and right now he wanted to…

He wanted to kiss the statue’s lips, the eyes. He wanted to stroke each clearly defined muscle, to run his fingers over it from the shapely ankle to the slightly bent knees. From there over the thighs, up over the hips and to the chest, the shoulders, the arms, this time sweeping downward until…

Antal closed his eyes. The statue’s erection was undeniably impressive.